ANDREW JACKSON In concluding a 2009 survey of optical brightening agents (OBAs)1, I wrote that, despite the difficulties faced by both producers and customers during an economic downturn, there was every reason to believe that OBAs would have a bright future. In some ways, little has changed in the intervening years, despite the highly competitive market in which we find ...

Tissue products have a long association with good health and quality of life. So it’s no surprise that for one of Europe’s largest tissue companies the idea of sustainability extends beyond production and distribution to include long-term social and environmental advantages for stakeholders at every stage of the value chain. The Sofidel Group is headquartered in Porcari, in the Italian ...

From a startup base in North America, the new offering will go global, providing mills with comprehensive protection. GRAEME RODDEN As pulp and paper mills concentrate increasingly on their core business of making product, the onus for maintaining chemical reliability is often shifted onto the suppliers. It is not a responsibility that suppliers have shirked and often it has become ...

In Part 1 of this 2-part series, we’ll look at changing our worldview about what defines failure. JAY SHELLOGG Many years ago, while completing my degree in engineering, I was forced to take a class in philosophy. To this day I can’t give a good reason for why this was required; most likely it was to provide some needed funding ...

One company is using data analytics to improve advanced control performance, lifetime management of consumable components, and predictive maintenance. MARK WILLIAMSON The Industrial Internet—or the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, big data, cloud computing, and analytics—are attention-getting terms that are hard to escape these days. A flood of projections cite these related concepts as “the way of the future” for ...

The amount of visible dirt in pulp, paper, or paperboard can critically affect its usefulness and value. A high number of visible dirt specks, and/or specks that are easily noticed in visual examination, may detract more from the usefulness of the paper material than would a lower number of specks, or specks that are less easily noticed. For a mill ...

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Keynoters from the upcoming TAPPI Nano conference discuss new developments in nanotechnology and the process of commercializing innovation. JACK MILLER With an ever-growing list of new nano-scale products and processes, and increasing interest in the untapped potential of sustainable nanocellulose materials, nanotechnology offers tremendous opportunity for the pulp and paper industry. For insight into what’s new in this important arena, ...

Sustainable packaging is still an important concept as Ecologic prepares to relaunch. GRAEME RODDEN Founded in 2008 and repeatedly honored for its innovative packaging (e.g., the paper bottle) and business approach, Ecologic Brands has suffered through some growing pains, but is poised to make significant new breakthroughs in packaging design and technology with new investments. The company had about US$2 ...

An interview with Berry Wiersum, CEO, Sappi Europe MARK RUSHTON RISI recently announced that Berry Wiersum, chief executive officer of Sappi Europe SA, has been named RISI’s 2017 European CEO of the Year. The award is nominated by a group of investment analysts, industry consultants, and commentators covering the European and global pulp and paper industry. According to nominators, “Wiersum ...